Page 22 of Tumbling Hearts

Gene sucks in a deep breath through his nose, letting it out slowly. “Yeah. I guess we could.”

Suddenly, the sound of socked feet barreling down the stairs from the upper level catches everyone’s attention.

“Gene! Ray! You’re back!” Santiago finally makes his appearance, plopping down at the base of the stairs, dressed in pajamas despite it not being evening yet.

“Oh hey, Santi!” Ray cheers, still annoyingly holding onto Carol’s arm. “Were… were you sleeping just now?”

“Yeah.” Santi shrugs, and everyone keeps staring at him. “What? There’s no harm in taking a nap during the day. And I changed into PJs to get comfy. Don’t wanna sleep in my jeans.”

“Okay, that’s fair,” Ray chuckles.

“But anyway, Gene! I need to tell you something.”

“Huh? Me?” Gene walks closer toward Santi, stepping around Ray and Carol.

“You’re blocking the TV,” Stefan says.

“What? Oh, sorry.” Gene moves out of the way, even closer to Santiago. Stefan didn’t say anything all this time, until now. He was actually still watching TV while we were talking? Gene shakes his head.

“And yeah, you, Gene.” Santi gives him a smirk, putting a hand on his hip. “You got a special phone call while you were away.”

“A phone call?” Gene’s brows furrow. “Who was it? My parents?” He can’t think of anyone else it could be. It’s not like any fans of the Dusty Brooms would have their phone number, and they would send letters through the mail instead anyway, which Dennis sorts out. And anyone important who’d try to reach the Brooms would go through Dennis first, and not try their own home phone.

“Definitely not your parents.” Santi chuckles. “It was that lovely Japanese lady you spent time with during the tour, Toshiko. I can’t remember her last name, but you know, right?”

Toshiko.

Gene’s heart stumbles.

How could he have already forgotten about her? He’s been so consumed with his desire for Ray that she simply slipped his mind. Of course he remembers her—now, anyway.

“Y-yeah, Toshiko Tanaka.” Gene nods, sucking in his lips. “I gave her our number.”

“Well, she was wondering what you were up to, and I told her you were on vacation for a few days,” Santiago says. “But she asked if you could call her back when you guys were done, and she gave me the number for the hotel she’s staying at.”

“Oh, uh… okay.” Gene feels the need to chance a glance at Ray, so he looks behind himself and does. Of course, Ray’s brows come together, mouth forming a flat line. And yet, his hand is still attached to Carol’s arm. Gene turns back toward Santi. “Yeah, I’ll give her a call back. Did she say when she’d be available?”

“Any time during the evening on a weekday, she said. She seemed like she had quite a bit of free time; must be done with her work for the most part. Which I guess is why she was wanting to see you again.”

“Alright. Maybe I can try in a little bit, if you wanna give me the number.”

“Sure thing!” Santi smiles. “I wrote it down; I’ll grab it for you. I think it’s absolutely cool how she called, though. You lucky bastard.”

Santi nudges his elbow against Gene, making him chuckle. But it’s without any heart, as he looks back at Ray again. They make eye contact briefly before Ray looks off to the side, face still holding the same displeased expression.

More than anything, especially now, Gene wishes they could go back to how open they were with their affections like during their trip. But it can’t be that way. No, he knows this. His stomach turns, eating itself as he notices Carol brush her hand against Ray’s shoulder. Watching Ray kiss Carol so freely makes Gene want to hurl.

So if Toshiko wants to talk to him again, he figures he’ll take her up on that offer.

Gene eats some dinner with Santiago, taking their plates up to their shared bedroom and sitting on the carpeted floor with it. They catch up, Gene telling Santi about his trip with Ray—minus any of the obvious parts—and they take turns toking on a weed pipe. Going a few days without weed and then coming back to it, it feels like returning to an old friend. He needs this. After witnessing Ray gush up to Carol, he really fucking needs this.

Santi gives Gene the piece of paper that he wrote Toshiko’s number on, and once done with his food, Gene heads back downstairs to the kitchen, passing by Ray, Carol, and the others sitting in the living room without saying a word to them. Gene puts his dishes in the sink, then turns toward the phone resting on the counter, grabbing it off the hook. Fingers trembling, looking down at the note, he dials the number. The rotary turns. The line rings. His heart beats fast, and eventually, someone answers.

“Hyatt on Sunset, how may I help you?”

Oh wow, she’s still been staying at the Hyatt this whole time. It makes sense, though, since she doesn’t have a permanent address in the States. Gene tells the clerk the room number Santiago wrote down, and the line is redirected to Toshiko’s room. After a few rings, there’s an answer.

“Hello?”